Science Fair: Solutions for a Better World, Girls Building a Brighter Future

Ignite your curiosity at our first-ever Science Fair in partnership with National Grid!

Girl Scouts of Nassau County (GSNC), in partnership with National Grid, recently hosted its first-ever science fair, Solutions for a Better World: Girls Building a Brighter Future, on Saturday, April 25 at the Yes We Can Community Center in Westbury, bringing together girls from across Nassau County to showcase original projects focused on solving real-world challenges through science and innovation. At a time when women remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers, the event was designed to give girls early, hands-on exposure to STEM and connect their ideas to real-world applications.

Participating projects aligned with one of four focus areas inspired by National Grid’s 4C Pillars: Customer Impact, Colleague Collaboration, Community Benefit and Clean Innovation. The focus reflects a broader effort to encourage girls to pursue STEM fields at a critical age, as research consistently shows that early exposure to at least one Girl Scout STEM activity during the troop year resulted in higher levels of STEM interest, confidence, and value of STEM to society. Participants were able to engage directly with role models working in energy, sustainability and infrastructure. Through the science fair, girls were encouraged to think critically about how science and innovation can be applied to everyday challenges facing their communities.

Sixty-five projects were evaluated across four focus areas (Customer Impact, Colleague Collaboration, Community Benefit and Clean Innovation) and multiple age groups, with winners recognized for their creativity, understanding of their chosen category, and ability to connect their ideas to real-world impact.

Great work to all the Girl Scouts who participated and congratulations to all the Girl Scouts who won awards!

1ST PLACE WINNERS BY CATEGORY
Name	Level	Project Title	Category	Award
Maddie M	Daisy	The Power of the Ocean	Clean Innovation	1st Place Winner
Emilie B	Cadette	Water Goals: Clean and Sparkling	Clean Innovation	1st Place Winner
Shivani P	Ambassador	Vermicomposting: An Organic Nutrient	Clean Innovation	1st Place Winner
Elizabeth R	Brownie	Flip the Switch; Saving Electricity	Customer Impact	1st Place Winner
Emily J	Senior	Food Insecurity	Customer Impact	1st Place Winner
Elle L	Junior	A Lighted Sign	Community Benefit	1st Place Winner
Lily N	Ambassador	Growing Your Mind for a Better World	Community Benefit	1st Place Winner
Abigail L, Eleanor M, Abigail S, Skye B, Samira Z, and Madeline R	Brownie	Marble Mase Amazement	Colleague Collaboration	1st Place Winner
Dana S and Manya G	Cadette	Pet Waste Problem in Garden City	Colleague Collaboration	1st Place Winner

HONORABLE MENTIONS BY CATEGORY
Name	Level	Project Title	Category	Award
Bianca W	Senior	The environmental impact of fashion	Clean Innovation	Most Creative
Waverly S	Cadette	Evaluating Plastic Collection Designs for Recreational Boats	Clean Innovation	Best Visual Display
Mancini F	Junior	The Final Straw	Clean Innovation	Best Real-World Application
Brooke R	Brownie	What keeps ice cream from melting?	Customer Impact	Best Real-World Application
Samantha F	Ambassador	From Waste to Wear: A Data-Driven Model for Textile Reuse and Carbon Reduction	Community Benefit	Most Creative
Danielle S	Ambassador	Endometriosis Awareness	Community Benefit	Best Visual Display
Rosabella M and Zoe N	Senior	Shotgun Wad Pollution	Community Benefit	Best Real-World Application
Miriam G and Asiyah G	Daisy and Brownie	Jet Propulsion	Colleague Collaboration	Most Creative
Abby Z and Charlotte Z	Brownies	Super COOL Project	Colleague Collaboration	Best Visual Display
Charlotte K and Allison F	Juniors	Bicycle Safety	Colleague Collaboration	Best Real-World Application

What are the project categories? (About National Grid's 4C Pillars) toggle arrow

Explore the world of science and innovation by selecting one of four project categories, each viewed through the lens of National Grid’s 4C Pillars:

Customer,
Colleague,
Community, and
Clean.

The 4C Pillars are a guide used by National Grid to launch various initiatives and programs throughout their company. The 4 Pillars are defined as

Customer: Focus on putting customers first by delivering safe, reliable and affordable energy. How can science improve the experiences or lives of yourself and the people around you?

Community: Centered on social impact, community engagement and making a positive difference in the areas we live and enjoy. How can innovation uplift and support our neighborhoods? How can you use STEM to solve a problem in your community?

Clean: Focusing on clean energy for our planet for years to come. What ideas can help create a cleaner, greener world?

Colleague (Teamwork Category) : No one person can do it alone! What breakthroughs are possible when we work together?

How will the winners be determined? What are the judging criteria? toggle arrow

To ensure fair evaluation, winners will be chosen by the following:

Daisies and Brownies
Juniors and Cadettes
Seniors and Ambassadors

A rubric will be given to judges before the fair. Projects will be based on how well they demonstrate an understanding of the chosen pillar along with creativity, teamwork skills (if applicable) and how well the project was Girl-Led.

Thank you to National Grid for sponsoring SCIENCE FAIR: Solutions for a Better World, Girls Building a Brighter Future!